Author: neilho27@sky.com

The Bluebells Anyone Could Be a Buzzcock single

VIDEO PREMIERE – The Bluebells – Anyone Could Be a Buzzcock

August 17, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Anyone Could be a Buzzcock is the new single taken from The Bluebells latest album, In the 21st Century, their first for over twenty years. The absorbing album from the legendary Glasgow icons has received great plaudits both by critics and old and new fans alike. The band go back to their roots on this energetic single, a welcome slice of first-wave-of-punk influenced nostalgia, inspired by the late, great Pete Shelley. The song is both a whole lot of fun and a great tribute to the Buzzcocks frontman, one of punks finest songwriters, and is accompanied by a suitably vibrant and colourful video from Glasgow artist, Jim Lambie.… Read the rest

Dark Places – a mini festival from The Filthy Tongues

August 13, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The inaugural, I say that in hope rather than having any specific knowledge of this being an annual occurrence, Dark Places festival was to my ears, a roaring success, a glorious celebration of music across a variety of genres, and from new bands to the more established (I was going to say young and old, but let’s say young at heart…)

Martha May and the Mondays

The job of opening the festival was handed to Martha May and the Mondays, a new band for me, part of the virtue of a festival like this, the opportunity to discover music new to you..… Read the rest

The Countess of Fife – Live Review, The Gilded Balloon, Patter Hoose, Edinburgh Fringe

August 12, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Having released one of the standout albums of 2023 and 2024 in Star of the Sea (the album was available last year, but the vinyl launched earlier this year), The Countess of Fife aka Fay Fife of Rezillos fame has built a formidable live band around her in the shape of Willy Molleson on drums (Eliza Carthy), Al Gare on double bass (Imelda May, Jeff Beck), Laurie Cuffe on guitar (Cuban Heels, Vellininios). and on acoustic guitar and backing vox, Kirsten Adamson who has been picking up plaudits herself for her 2nd album Landing Place, including My Fathers Song’s a poignant tribute to her late father.… Read the rest

Water Machine & Brenda – FREE live gigs in Glasgow

August 11, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

How often does it happen, Water Machine & Brenda, two of the best new bands in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK, Europe, nay, strike all that, make that two of the best new bands in the WORLD both playing celebratory sets on the same day, in the same city, both FREE and at separate locations – and what’s more, I could get to them both! Mind you it would be difficult for them to play simultaneously due to one common denominator… more of that later.

Brenda

Hot off the heels of their triumphant album launch in The Glad Café, and a spot at the Lost Map Howlin’ Fling on Eigg (I didn’t make it, but my tent did…), Brenda continued their celebrations of the release of a truly remarkable album at a packed-out George Square.… Read the rest

Duncan Reid – And It’s Goodbye From Him – Interview

August 6, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

This past weekend Duncan Reid & the Big Heads will have played their final gigs at Rebellion, with their final hurrah following on the 7th October in The Lexington, to mark the release of the glorious final album And It’s Goodbye From Him. I caught up with Duncan recently when we started off chatting about the 17 year old “Kid” Reid joining The Boys, all the way through to the new, and many would say best, Duncan Reid and the Big Heads album.

Kid Reid & The Boys

The Ginger Quiff: Before we start talking about the new album (And Its Goodbye From Him), we’ll take a look back to when it all first began, tell me about the first time you picked up a bass guitar and what was it like being involved as a 17-year-old, joining ex members of London SS and Hollywood Brats at the early days of the punk scene?… Read the rest

Carla J Easton – The Hug and Pint (with Ruby Gaines & Kohla) & Brontes (George Square)

August 4, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

The Hug and Pint Endless Summer gig season is in full swing and what better way for me to go to my first of several nights in August than to see Carla J Easton play a selection of songs from her upcoming album Sugar Honey.

Before Carla we were treated to two very different, but equally impressive sets from Kohla and Ruby Gaines (as a massive Prince fan I keep wanting to type Rosie!). 

Kohla’s album Romance is due to be released soon with an album launch gig in Sneaky Petes, The Hug and Pint served as a perfect warm up for her.… Read the rest

Brenda – Live in The Glad Cafe (with R.Aggs)

July 30, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I think I’ve probably been looking forward to this gig since I interviewed the band in The Bell Jar in February (link here) when we shot the breeze about the band coming together, their name, video shoots in LA and of course their forthcoming debut album.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Hogge (Chis Hogge Photography)

I’ve seen the band live on several occasions since then, but The Glad Cafe, being the official release of their self titled debut album (reviewed here), was set to be something special. Which ultimately is exactly how it turned out, a gathering of like minded individuals in a fabulous, intimate venue ready to celebrate the music of one of Scotland’s hottest new bands. … Read the rest

Sinead O’Connor

July 27, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

I’ve started writing this and stopped several times. I obviously didn’t know Sinead O’Connor (Shuhada Sadaqa) personally, and I don’t usually post obituaries on my blog, with the odd exception.  

There is no doubt from the very first moment I saw her striking appearance and her remarkable vocal I was hooked. Mandinka was rarely off my turntable when I first bought the single and I nearly wore out my cassette of the Lion and the Cobra, the songs so affecting in their arrangements and that other-worldly vocal, ranging from delicate fragility to compellingly powerful.


Her live performances were amongst the most memorable I have seen.… Read the rest

Siouxsie – Summer Nights Live at The Bandstand, Kelvingrove

July 26, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Kelvingrove Bandstand Summer Nights can end now. Last night was the first of this years run of gigs in the iconic and impressive venue, but they may as well not bother with the rest of them, as the equally as iconic and impressive Siouxsie unleashed a performance that, until it actually happened, I could never have even dreamed of witnessing and will be nigh on impossible to beat no matter who follows her.

I need to try to explain just how much this gig meant to me, and I imagine from the response last night there were people in a similar position to me.… Read the rest

Water Machine, Bikini Body & I Wanna Be a Truck Driver – live in The Rum Shack

July 23, 2023 By neilho27@sky.com

Similar to the previous week in The Hug and Pint, there was most definitely a palpable air of anticipation buzzing around the excellent south side venue ahead of Water Machine’s biggest Glasgow date. 

I think I can safely say all three bands on the bill played a blinder, more than exceeding expectations, more like smashing it out of the park for a home run. The job of warming up the Rum Shack fell to I Wanna Be a Truck Driver, a band I’d never seen live before but was introduced to by Stuart, aka photographer Blackmagicplastic, at a previous Water Machine gig.… Read the rest